THE STAR-SEER’S PROPHECY, by Rahima Warren MFT (ret.)

AN EPIC FANTASY NOVEL OF THE HEALING JOURNEY

From the Healing the World from the Inside Out series in the Rose Press Collection.*

In this gripping, three-part novel of the passage from abuse to redemption, a most unlikely hero — born a slave in a land overtaken by a sorcerous despot so long ago that its peaceful origins have been nearly forgotten — is chosen to bring the Sacred Balance back to the world. But the imprint of abuse goes deep, and Kyr's healing journey is filled with twists and turns and trials, as he agrees to the Hard Path of forgiveness..

ON THIS PAGE:

About the books

How the book help healing happen

Use of the trilogy as Bibliotherapy, to heal trauma

Excerpt from the book

The author’s mission

The appeal of the trilogy even if you’re not usually a reader of fantasy

Video, Naomi Rose reading from the book

Reviews

Purchasing access

* The books in this series seek to illuminate the connection between the inner and the outer life and show us a way to wholeness. Out of this, we may awaken, bring more compassionate awareness to our actions, and (however it shows up in us) become a genuinely healing presence in the world.

Book illustrationS by Brenda D. murphy (bdmillustration.com)

A deep, rich story of the transformation and healing journey of the soul . . . tailor-made for our own time.

TO HEAL OUR OUTER WORLD DEEPLY AND LASTINGLY, WE NEED TO LOOK TO OUR INNER WORLD. THE STAR-SEER’S PROPHECY masterfully illuminates the healing journey through the story of the aggrieved hero’s transformation — and shows us how to take the “hard path of forgiveness,” ourselves.

A GREAT READ AS WELL AS A VEHICLE OF PROFOUND HEALING:

“Let yourself experience the fiercely potent, healing magic of The Star-Seer’s Prophecy!” – Jodie Forrest, Author, The Rhymer and the Ravens, and The Ascendant

“A deep and powerful story that ranks with the best fantasy-fiction, ever. A richly rewarding story for those with the courage to seek the fullness of being alive."” – Richard Scheiffer, Mankind Project Elder

WRITTEN BY A PSYCHOTHERAPIST TO . . .

help READERS experience their own healing, and emerge transformed:

"I could safely start to heal old wounds . . . and it all happened through the story." — Tetja Ann Barbee, reader, in a letter to the author

“A wonderful book about survival and love, with all the trials and hardships it takes to achieve both. This story exemplified that forgiveness, as difficult as it can be at times, is a choice which frees us as much as being forgiven, if not more. It is a great read and has given me much to think about with my own life.” — Virginia Burrell, RN. reader. Author, Dismantling the War Machine

"Sharing the character’s journey supported me in accepting my own journey from suffering to growth. A richly rewarding story for those with the courage to seek the fullness of being alive.” – Richard Scheiffer, Mankind Project Elder

help THERAPISTS use as Bibliotherapy in their work with clients suffering from trauma:

"As a mental health specialist, I have dedicated the last 15 years to helping others process many different kinds of trauma. A special kind of progress can be made from bibliotherapy selections when working with certain clients. Trauma work often is not an easy road, but it is an important and often life-saving effort. I have used Dark Innocence with clients who have found themselves stuck in their therapeutic progression with great success, in terms of unlocking parts of themselves and their experiences that -— until this point — have been inaccessible." — Molly Doll, MS, LPC, NCC

"The story is told as an exciting fantasy tale peopled with believable characters of emotional depth, yet Rahima Warren is unflinching in exposing the inner and outer struggle with loss and suffering, and the need to recommit again and again to the 'hard path' of healing. For both Kyr and the reader, the outcome is worth the effort, and could be inspiring to anyone dealing with emotional healing.” — Hannah Kusterer, MFT

"A beautifully written and richly woven tale of the archetypal themes of wounding and redemption. It explores that darkest aspects of human experience and the true nature of healing. I highly recommend The Star-Seer’s Prophecy to healers, therapists and those in need of healing—in other words, all of us [adults].” — Merideth Bowen Shamszad, MFT; Author, The Story of Little Feather

In the following audio, Rahima Warren is interviewed by Naomi Rose about her book, its journey, and her hopes for its healing influence.

Book One: Dark Innocence

THE STORY OF BOOK ONE: What if a slave named Kyr, who knows nothing but a hell of evil and suffering, is the only one who can restore the Sacred Balance of the mortal and divine realms, as the Star-Seer’s Prophecy foretells? Will Kyr fulfill his star-cursed destiny? Or will the Prophecy prove wrong, and blood-sorcery and darkness prevail?

“This novel can take its place amongst Tolkien and the best of science fiction writers such as Ursula LeGuin. It is a well-sustained, exciting and suspenseful narrative written in a lucid and powerful style.”

“From her deep understanding of human nature, Rahima Warren has written a beautiful and unique story. Harrowing at times, it is ultimately positive, inspiring, and expansive. I'm grateful for the privilege of being able to read it, and I can't wait for the next book!"

— Ivana Marshall, MA, Counselor

EXCERPT FROM “DARK INNOCENCE”

[In this excerpt, Kyr is brought to the forest where the Great Tree stands, and where dwells Svahar, the healer who (he has been told) will heal him of his tortured past and the trauma he carries because of it.]

Kyr's heart hummed as if it were a harp and her words had strummed an unknown chord upon it. Blinking away mystifying tears, he knelt beside her.

To their left, the setting Sun flooded the meadow with rose-amber light, gilding the Great Tree's vast trunk and branches. The warm air of evening was enlivened by rich smells of earth and new growth. Elusive perfumes wafted from white and yellow flowers, carried by gentle breezes rippling through the grasses of the meadow and the leaves of the Tree. Calls of countless birds filled the air with sounds sweet or raucous, unadorned or intricate, weaving a complex tapestry of sound.

The Tree's vast serenity went beyond anything he had ever known, opening door after door in his mind to unknown and marvelous potentialities. He had learned of the existence of love at the cabin, though he understood little of it. Now the Tree spoke to him in the cooing of the birds and the rustling of its leaves; in its own deep-rooted silence and abiding strength of wondrous mysteries and unfathomable depths of love and beauty in the world. A feeling stole over him that if such a Tree could exist, anything might be possible, even being freed from the craving and the vileness of his life as the Soul-Drinker's Slave.

WHY FANTASY? FROM A NOTE BY THE AUTHOR TO HER READERS

"Why put the healing journey of The Star-Seer's Prophecy in the form of a fantasy? Because fantasy has long been one of the ways that we tell profound, soul-awakening truths, starting with myths, legends, and fairy tales, and continuing with many modern fantasy novels. But the truth is that I had no choice, since Kyr [who initially "appeared" in the author's mind] inhabits an ancient world of blood sorcery and ritual magic, where good people struggle with impossible choices, and sometimes emerge from their ordeals as artists, leaders or wise healers.

"Although this is a fantasy, it is not for children or the faint of heart. It deals with evils . . . and with the difficult emotional aftermath of one who has both suffered and inflicted great harm. However, the main focus of the book is on the amazing capacity we humans have to recover our true essence from the darkest of ordeals; to retrieve the light of our souls from the depths of despair; and to heal and transform ourselves into Light-Bearers, bringing hope to the world. This I have witnessed many times in my work with my clients, and in myself. This is what Kyr's story is truly about.

"And so I invite you to join Kyr on his arduous and poignant journey from the torments of evil, pain, and remorse to the blessings of healing, love, and enlightenment. Allow yourself to be touched by his plight and his bravery; to discover what resonates with your own journey; and perhaps to be healed and inspired by his story. May it live in your heart as it has in mine, and become one of the books you return to over time, deepening your experience of yourself as well as of the story."

Book Two: Fierce Blessings

THE STORY OF BOOK TWO: Torn from the safety of the Sanctuary by his worst enemy, Kyr is faced with the second hell foretold by the Star-Seer’s Prophecy. Can he protect his soul from depravity, or will he return to the degrading slavery he has known most of his life? The fate of the land and of the Goddess Zhovanya Herself depends on his choice.

"This is a profound and inspiring work that grapples with the universal themes of brutality and forgiveness, trauma and recovery, and the liberating power of compassion.”

– Merideth Bowen Shamszad, MFT, Author, The Story of Little Feather

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AUTHOR RAHIMA WARREN AT THE UNVEILING OF BOOK THREE, "PERILOUS BLISS"

RAHIMA WARREN, MA, MFT, is a retired psychotherapist who drew on her clinical training and experience as an Expressive Arts therapist, as well as on her own spiritual path to write this trilogy. Initially, the story just "came" to her. She decided to follow it. Seventeen years and many revisions later, The Star-Seer's Prophecy is the result.

"The main focus of the book is on the amazing capacity we humans have to recover our true essence from the darkest of ordeals; to retrieve the light of our souls from the depths of despair; and to heal and transform ourselves into Light-Bearers, bringing hope to the world."

— Rahima Warren, from the Author's Note to Book One

Book Three: Perilous Bliss

THE STORY OF BOOK THREE: At last Kyr reaches the haven of Ravenvale, where he is welcomed as a hero. But the third hell of the Prophecy finds him. Enraged by the terrible secrets and betrayals, he abandons the Hard Path of forgiveness and plunges into abject, bitter despair. And yet the stars are moving into the redemptive pattern foreseen by the Star-Seer long ago.

Will Kyr shatter under the terrible hallowing that the Goddess requires? Or will he become Her Vessel and restore – after generations of despoliation and forgetfulness – the Sacred Balance to the land?

"The true genius of this book is that the hero, Kyr, is not the only one embarking on a healing pilgrimage through the treacherous and liberating underworld of the psyche.

“I can’t imagine how any reader can take this soulful, spiritual and creative literary journey and not come away deeply and personally transformed.”

— Chris Zydel, MA, Author, Conversations with the Brush and Love Letters from the Creative Heart

AUTHOR'S MISSION STATEMENT

"This deep, rich story of the transformation and healing journey of the soul — as well as my own inner work and my career as a psychotherapist —are dedicated to ending the personal and societal culture of hatred, revenge, and punishment, and evoking an inner and outer culture of compassion, forgiveness, and healing.

"In my work with clients recovering from abuse, I was awed by the human capacity to heal, and to reach new levels of forgiveness, wholeness, and happiness. Through an unexpected alchemy, my experiences working with my clients and on my own healing journey coalesced with my love of fantasy fiction into the writing of this mystical and redemptive trilogy adventure.”

— Rahima Warren, MA, MFT

Below, Book Developer and Publisher Naomi Rose reads from Dark Innocence (Book One of Rahima Warren's trilogy, The Star-Seer's Prophecy).

BIBLIOTHERAPY: Using The Star-Seer’s Prophecy for Healing

FOR THERAPISTS and INDIVIDUALS on a Healing Path

Sometimes in working with clients with a history of trauma and abuse, reading a certain kind of book together can open a door for the client to address their pain fruitfully in therapy, in a way that more direct inquiry cannot do as quickly or as well.

Using the three volumes of The Star-Seer’s Prophecy as bibliotherapy gives your clients a benign way to recognize and come through their histories of abuse, within the context of therapy, by providing them with a safe distance and an engaging imaginative context for addressing their own traumas.

Reading a book can be a safer, more accessible way for someone who has experienced psychologically scarring abuse to enter into a different version of their own experience and come out the other side. Literature is particularly powerful when it takes universal themes and particularizes them into a specific, detailed world that on the surface is altogether different from the reader’s world, but on a deeper level speaks to the universality of human experience that the reader can relate to without defensiveness.

Healing for her readers was certainly a prime motivation of retired psychotherapist Rahima Warren when she wrote the story of Kyr — a “dark innocent” raised to know only abuse, cruelty, and depravity — who unwittingly embarks on a healing journey to find out who he really is, learn to love and trust for the first time, forgive his tormentors as well as himself, and emerge cleansed, empowered, and whole.

READERS FIND HEALING AND INSPIRATION FROM READING THE STAR-SEER’S PROPHECY

As reader Tetja Ann Barbee said, in an interview with author Rahima Warren:

“By living vicariously through the characters in a safe, fun, and captivating manner, I began to relate to my own dark and deep feelings. I found I could safely start to heal old wounds, and question things about my own beliefs. And it all happened through the story’s presentation of terrible suffering, acceptance, and growth, as opposed to having to analyze myself. I cried and laughed a lot, and consciously decided that if these characters can face such horrendous pain and evil, and come out to a place of lightness and beauty and love, so can I.”

And as reader Virginia Burrell put it:

“I can certainly identify with so much of Kyr’s life and thoughts. As Kyr frequently reminded himself, ‘to forgive is the hard path.’ I frequently remind myself that recovery is not ‘the easy path.’”

DISCUSSING THIS TRILOGY WITH YOUR CLIENTS CAN OFFER THEM PROFOUND SUPPORT:

A common ground with the hero of this book, who undergoes unendurable suffering but takes the “hard path” of forgiveness that frees him.

A tangible roadmap of the healing journey and its internal, often recursive stages.

The opportunity for transformative openings in the client. You might ask — in a moment when your client is fighting off kindness, support, or love — “Remember when Kyr couldn’t believe anyone really wanted to help him?” Your clients’ identification with Kyr and his journey can bring them to believe that even people who were subjected to the more horrendous experiences can find their way to a good life on the other side.

One therapist who has used Dark Innocence in her therapeutic practice isMolly Doll: MS, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Oregon), NCC (Nationally Certified Counselor), with 18 years’ experience. One of her specialties is trauma recovery. She shares her experience here:

“As a mental health therapist, I have dedicated the last 15 years to helping others process many different kinds of trauma. I have come to understand that a special kind of progress can be made from bibliotherapy selections when working with certain clients, at the same time that it is important to remain current in terms of skills, interventions, and resources. The book Dark Innocence, by retired psychotherapist Rahima Warren, is an example of one man’s courageous journey from the depths of hell towards enlightenment and restoration. As with actual survivors of abuse, Kyr did not ask to be the hero of this tale; yet the story masterfully leads us on an amazing adventure through the stages of healing. We are reminded that trauma work often is not an easy road, but it is an important and often life-saving effort. Themes of safety, attributions of responsibility, and positive-future templates are artfully woven into a tapestry of emotional peaks and valleys as well as an undercurrent of unconditional positive regard. I have used Dark Innocence with clients who have found themselves stuck in their therapeutic progression with great success, in terms of unlocking parts of themselves and their experiences that — up until this point — have been inaccessible.”

“An excellent book outlining how healing can happen for those who have experienced severe abuse and trauma and who also abused others. The book eloquently describes what happens when one has relapsed and is flooded by their traumatic past. But the focus here is on how one can still heal and emerge from past traumas as a survivor who can live life more fully. I love that the book reads like a novel! What a relief that it is not written as yet another textbook or a self-help book. [It’s] great that the main character is a man who not only suffers from but also heals from his abuse, as there are so few books out there that address this issue for men. I used to work with…male teenagers who were offenders but they didn’t have a lot of books to choose from with the healing of male characters. A book like this with the abuse and in-depth healing of a male character who experiences but then heals from multiple traumas should have been written long ago. And it applies to healing for women also for many reasons…. What a gift for me personally to read such a well-thought-out story.”

Yet another therapist, Hannah Kusterer, a retired psychotherapist (MFT), worked for 40 years in multi-cultural settings with individuals healing from substance abuse and trauma. She writes:

“For therapists working with healing trauma, The Star-Seers Prophecy trilogy could be an excellent tool. The path of redemption, forgiveness, and healing that the main character, Kyr, follows in his journey offers an accurate and complete account of how that transformation occurs. The story is told as an exciting fantasy tale peopled with believable characters of emotional depth, yet Rahima Warren is unflinching in exposing the inner and outer struggle with loss and suffering, and the need to recommit again and again to the 'hard path' of healing. For both Kyr and the reader, the outcome is worth the effort, and could be inspiring to anyone dealing with emotional healing.”

Imagine the openings that could be possible for your clients if they read this trilogy as part of their therapy. Buy the series now, and let the possibilities for bibliotherapeutic healing unfold.

Book Reviews

Book One: DARK INNOCENCE

“A can’t-put-it-down, page turning adventure story, deliciously abducting you into an enchanted world that is brimming with powerfully complex characters, and both dark and light magic.

"But the true genius of this book is that the hero, Kyr, is not the only one embarking on a healing pilgrimage through the treacherous and liberating underworld of the psyche. I can’t imagine how any reader can take this soulful, spiritual and creative literary journey and not come away deeply and personally transformed.”

— Chris Zydel, MA, Author, Conversations with the Brush and Love Letters from the Creative Heart

“A beautifully written and richly woven tale of the archetypal themes of wounding and redemption.

"The author looks fearlessly into the darkest aspects of human experience and explores the true nature of healing. Her wisdom as a psychotherapist permeates the story, but this is no dry textbook . . . it is a gripping and inspiring page-turner! The story has stayed with me and continues to amaze–Highly recommended (for adults only!).” — Merideth Bowen Shamszad, Author, The Story of Little Feather

"I love that the book reads like a novel! What a relief that it is not written as yet another textbook or a self-help book. [It’s] great that the main character is a man who not only suffers from but also heals from his abuse, as there are so few books out there that address this issue for men.

"I used to work with male teenagers who were offenders, but they didn’t have a lot of books to choose from with the healing of male characters. A book like this with the abuse and in-depth healing of a male character who experiences but then heals from multiple traumas should have been written long ago. And it applies to healing for women also for many reasons…. What a gift for me personally to read such a well-thought-out story.”

— Sarah Weinberg, MS, LCSW

Book Two: FIERCE BLESSINGS

“Brilliantly explores archetypal themes of life, which have coalesced in the heart and soul of the heroic yet tormented protagonist, Kyr.

"His awakening and struggle to become the hallowed vessel of the Goddess are poignant and heart-wrenching, yet readers of his story will be well-rewarded as his transcendent and redemptive spiritual path unfolds. This is a profound and inspiring work that grapples with the universal themes of brutality and forgiveness, trauma and recovery, and the liberating power of compassion.”

– Merideth Bowen Shamszad, MFT, Author, The Story of Little Feather

“A wonderfully compelling read. A page-turner of the highest order. But more than that, it is a powerful spiritual teaching.

"A step-by-step guide on how to keep our hearts open in the face of unimaginable suffering, how to forgive the unforgivable, and what it means to allow the sweet mercy and compassion of the Divine Feminine to be an ongoing healing presence in our lives.”

–Chris Zydel, Author, Conversations with the Brush and Love Letters from the Creative Heart

“Gritty and Uplifting.

"Sharing the character’s journey supported me in accepting my own journey from suffering to growth. A richly rewarding story for those with the courage to seek the fullness of being alive.”

– Richard Scheiffer, Mankind Project Elder

Book Three: PERILOUS BLISS

“Deliciously readable for a story of such intensity. From the time I dipped into the first page until I reluctantly finished the last, I spent every possible open moment with Kyr. I simply had to know what the third hell would be and how he would navigate the treachery, this time.

“A wonderful book about survival and love, with all the trials and hardships it takes to achieve both.

"Rahima Warren was able to tell this story which exemplified that forgiveness, as difficult as it can be at times, is a choice which frees us as much as being forgiven, if not more. It is a great read and has given me much to think about with my own life.”

— Virginia Burrell, RN. Author, Dismantling the War Machine

“Longtime psychotherapist Rahima Warren brings her daring, passionate, and compassionate trilogy to a most satisfying close in Perilous Bliss.

"Brave and reflective readers may find more in these books than excellent fantasy set in a masterfully-built and richly detailed world. If you’re ready to encounter your wounded side, to understand and release its pain, and to walk with it through a more serene future, then let yourself experience the fiercely potent, healing magic of The Star-Seer’s Prophecy, because it was written for you.”

— Jodie Forrest,Author, The Rhymer and the Ravens, and The Ascendant

“I found myself enthralled as I dove into this final volume on the world of Kyr and the land of Khailaz, now recovering from the hell of the Soul-Drinker’s long reign.

“Book Three builds upon the substantial foundation of Books One and Two, and culminates in a well-crafted, page-turning and unpredicted climax that is deeply satisfying and authentic to the characters and the story. The author has woven everything together beautifully.

“In psychological terms, this is a story of the depth of human suffering and the laborious and miraculous ways in which human beings can find healing. Rahima Warren’s description of Kyr’s recovery is inspirational and instructive. It is a testament to her knowledge of the process and principles of psychotherapy and the development of a mature human being, as well as the healing power available to those who have the courage to tread the ‘hard path.’

"I highly recommend The Star-Seer’s Prophecy to healers, therapists and those in need of healing—in other words, all of us.” (Note: I do not recommend this book for children.)”

— Merideth Bowen Shamszad, MFT; Author, The Story of Little Feather

The Star-Seer's Prophecy is what the best fantasy novels strive to be:

A DEEP MIRROR OF ONE’S INNER BEING (SEEN THROUGH A DIFFERENT REALITY’S PERSPECTIVE), AND THE PROMISE OF A BETTER LIFE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JOURNEY.